An insider's view of what is really happening in the Harris County Criminal Courts

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Finalized Field (Updated)

With yesterday's filing deadline for the 2010 Judicial Elections, we now know who all is running for what bench in the Harris County Courthouse. Some rather, um, interesting candidates are Lloyd Oliver (who is currently under felony indictment), former Civil Judge Sharolyn Wood (who has no criminal experience but apparently really really liked being a judge), and former-Judge Janice Law (you've got to read this article to get an idea of how that would be). Not to mention there are a whole host of candidates that I've never heard of in my life.

I'll be looking at the individual races as we move closer to the March primary, but for now here's an overview. (NOTE: For the official lists of Republican Candidates click here & for the official lists of Democratic candidates click here).

In the meantime, mark your calendar for March 2nd for the primary. Don't complain if you don't vote, and don't forget that Pat Lykos' greatest campaign strength was apathy.

We have heard each party is bringing in DIRTY TRICKS people to smear some of the people running. they have already requested film footage of recent trial to run in some commercials against the republicans=Im sure republicians are doing same----Going to be some nasty campaigns=sad way to operate

Ahhh, the lovely and talented Judge Wood. I enjoyed reading her lamentations after losing her civil bench. After running unopposed for decades, because she was a Republican, she bemoaned the partisan sweep that was identical to the one that swept her in. "We lost years of excperience..." she cried. Well judge, your experience was inconsistent and shoddy. The courthouse is a more consistent place without you. And she was one of the most plaintiff friendly judges in town.

(Never lost in her court, before anyone says I'm bitter, but every day was a crap shoot in her court, and she often acted in contravention to her earlier orders in the same case.)

Now is the time to stand strong, proud, and have integrity. The democrats will play dirty but we must rise above that. We must unite and promote the party. This election can send a message that 08 was a fluke. If that message is sent loud and clear, the democrats will lose all momentum.

Judge Wood is a strong Republican and has the intellectual skills to adapt to any setting. She will bring a refreshing energy to the criminal courthouse.

Word is that Judge Lykos will be very active in promoting the best interest of the party.

We need to fight this fight with renewed optimism and energy. Get the word out!

Just for grins, you might pay a visit to her "author" web site, where you can be impressed by photos she had taken with such Republican luminaries as Ken Starr and G. Gordon Liddy. There's also a link to her current "political" web site, where she touts the same asshat resume previously used, as well as that of her well-connected husband.

For continuing grins, you also might try the Amazon page for her 2006 tome about her first year as a judge in CCCL 5, "Yield: A Judge's Fir$t-Year Diary." Out of three reviews, one reader clearly loves her, one used the term "buffoon," and the third appears to have been written by her husband. Flack sites variously refer to it as a diary of her "tumultuous" or "explosive" first year on the bench (not noting that all would have been pretty routine, but for the author) and suggest that the book doesn't cast the Harris County system in a favorable light.

Sorta makes you wonder why she wants back in . . .

The book is available new from Amazon for just under $20, but I found a copy on eBay for $37.42. Somehow that assbackward pricing makes sense for a book by Janice Law.

I understand the concerns about Palmer. I don't believe everything I read on this blog but there is a ton of negativity surrounding her. As for Wood, she has been a Judge and lawyer for over 30 years. Many judges in rural counties handle both criminal and civil dockets. You must admit that civil dockets are more complicated than criminal. Many times in civil cases the judge is repsonsible for learning a new law or concept. Give her a chance.

When Judge Law told people she was running again, courthouse people were upset because she exposed some judicial activities in her book that have proven to be true. She was ready to go further and talk about other things but some judges chose not to run again and one resigned.

Aggie Precinct Chair,Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one. Supporting Sharolyn Woods is a political one, not one that is in the best interest of the criminal system. Cary Hart has got my whole-hearted support on this one.

Anon 3:00 p.m.,You are cracking me up by treating Judge Law like some sort of hero at the courthouse. I was her court chief. She was a nice lady, but seriously, to call her eccentric would be a MAJOR understatement. Those judges that chose not to run again did so of their own accord and not because of anything that Law was going to "expose". That's just silly. She failed to even make the runoff in her own primary back in 2002 as an incumbent because her erratic behavior was notorious. Let her stick to her bookwriting. Fantasyland is really a better place for her.

Janice Law had major mental issues and her imagination ran wild ,but she was right about many of the things that happened at courthouse.She was aware of who was involved in questionable activities.She got mad because she was not included.

I do not know much if anything about Cary Hart. My only point was that Judge Wood is experienced and could adapt. I don't mean to say that she is the best choice. She is a better choice than many of the democrat candidates.

Janice Law is a serious nutcase. Remember how she used to make the court reporter take down EVERYTHING, including the resets that we had to approach her for, even if it was the first appearance? Sometimes you couldn't get out of her court until after 1 pm. And having to try a case in front of her was just hell, since she was so erratic that you had no idea what she was going to pull next. She was rude and abusive to both defense and prosecution, and she would be that way in front of the jury. The woman is an incompetent boob and pray that she doesn't elected. I don't want to go through that again for 4 years.

The problem with Janice Law is that she has to much informaton about all the inner office romances between Judges and prosecutors and the personal lives of some of the sitting judges. She got angry and wrote the book. Now she has offered to expose private matters and looks like that is how she got back on the ballot. Look at who her suporters are and you can figure out who is behind her efforts. She is seeking more attention because of her bitterness.

After reading that article, Murray, I remember "Law" well. It's not unusual to get that kind of "talent" running for the misdemeanor benches, but I remember that she turned out to be a lulu. Surprised me a little about Chuckles Noll's comments, but then he had to deal with her. It reminded me alot of the 18 months that I spent in Lykos court. She might be a better candidate for 1st Assistant.

Judge Law was unstable. If anyoneis interested the Houston Press did an article on how she used to live in her car and showered in the office when she was a prosecutor in South Texas. She was always a "nice lady" but a judge, uh, no.

Are you kidding me about Judge Wood. She should run again, for a civil bench. I don't know her, but it is presumptious to say she knows how to be a criminal judge. Both Carey and Natalie would be great judges.

Just the thought that Wood is willing to learn on the go at the expense of the citizens or an individual's freedom is proof of how dumb that is. And the same goes for the other knuckleheads running for benches w/ no criminal law experience.

Please remove "Aggie" from your title. You embarass the rest of us who went to A&M. Wood was fine as a civil judge. She was disliked by some because she would give a plaintiff a fair shake. But she was overall ok. She doesn't know a damn thing about criminal law. Nothing. The Republican party would be well served by backing Hart, who is the most qualified candidate without question. But the Rs have a history of rewarding party loyalists over qualified individuals. That explains the gross mismanagement performed daily by Lykos. Your party needs to support the qualified people who run.

Word is that Law has another book more bizarre than first. She names the people who were having relationships in the workplace and has dates and times and who they were dating and divorcing ,and married to. Several Judges named. Some still around and some retiring. Copies of divorce decrees in book. Read preface on Amazon.Could be embarassing showing multiple marriages and divorces with co-workers. Murray ,if you were there you will know who she is talking about

Anon 7:32 Am....Give me a break. Peyton Peebles or Paula Goodhart would be 100% better than Mike Wilkinson ever thought about being. They would show up before 12 noon and conduct business as it should be conducted. He's a nice guy but a disgrace to the bench. When he was on the 179th bench, it was like he was stealing from the county on a daily basis. He had no respect for anyone's time but his own. He doesn't need to be a sitting judge anymore.

I have to agree about Mike. Even though we go a long way back and he is one of the smartest people I know, we don't need anymore part-time county court judges. Sorry there are two really good candidates for the same bench. Gonna keep supporting Paula, sorry Payton, you got in last.

Anon 8:30,Some of your complaints against Mike Wilkinson might also apply to Paula "Flex-Time" Goodhardt. Perhaps she might not show up before 12 noon and conduct business as it should be conducted either ..... it would be like she was stealing from the county on a daily basis also. She likely wouldn't respect anyone's time but her own. So based on your analysis she doesn't need to be a sitting judge ever either.

Sorry Jigmeister, but even though Paula is more than qualified, she was originally planning to run for CCL#4 and just changed her mind within the past couple of weeks. Peyton has been planning to run for CCL#1 for several months and has been collecting signatures since then. Alot of people had already committed to Peyton when she threw her name in that race.

Part-time Paula was more concerned with flex-time abuse as an ADA than she was in putting in a full day of normal hours....that's why she quit if I remember correctly. So how can we expect her to put in a full days work as judge when she'll be accountable to no one? Paula will put in the same hours as Wilkinson. Peyton is by far the best candidate for CCL#1.

How many years did Paula put in before she quit? 14? 15? Doesn't sound like part time to me. She was one of the hardest workers and her dedication to her job was never in question. Do I hear meowing???

Peyton and Paula both put in a lot of years at the DA's Office before they left. I think they both worked hard. But Peyton's the one we all went to for help. I'm glad he's running. We will finally have a judge that knows the LAW!!!

I have heard nothing but good things about Paula Goodhart and her husband. She will be a state oriented Judge and from what I have heard, will hold Defendant's accountable. I have also heard that her husband is not one to take orders from anyone. As for the other candidate, he is a democrat.

Despite the criticisms I receive, I cannot imagine a scenario whereby the person who supports Obama is the best candidate. All democrats should be ruled out.

Jigmeister, our families votes will cancel eachothe out because we are going to vote for Peyton. Paua is nice enough but I like Peyton's even temperament, experience on both sides, and his extensive knowledge of the law due to his appellate experience.

Margaret Harris has some of those same qualities and will get our vote again

Dennis Slate looks like a good choice to us because Don Smyth may be too institutionalized as a prosecutor.

Most of the imcumbants are doing a damn good job especially Vanessa Velasquez, Jeanine Barr, and mary lou Keel. We will vote against Krocker, Campbell, and Susan Brown.

A couple others we are leaning towards are Alvin. Nunnery and Cary Hart.

Don't know Slate, but Don will be very good and I disagree with your assessment. He will call them without bias. One of the most even handed people I know. People don't know this, but he has been a boyscout leader ever since his kids were young and really cares about people.

Peyton would do fine, just owe some loyalty to Paula. She was one of mine as a young prosecutor and I have never known her to be a slacker, but can't argue with your choice.

Imagine what the 8th floor would be like if Wilkinson won court 1, Harmon stayed in court 2, Sharon Woods won court 3, and Janice Law won court 4...... A four ring circus! Harmon and Wilkinson would come together at nearly noon on one side of the building. Law and Woods on the other side doing God knows what!

Judge Harmon is a great Judge. He tries cases and gets to court well before Wilkinson. He also refuses to break the law and follow the brilliant DIVERT program. There is not a Judge that is more fair than Judge Harmon.

Aggie PCT Chair, you cannot really be an Aggie, this has to be a bit. Please let this be a bit. As an Aggie, you embarrass me.

What in the heck does Obama have to do with someone being a quality judge at the county level? Thinking like yours gets us an unqualified judiciary from either side. This is why if I could change one thing about judge elections it would be non-partisan races which would also stop straight ticket voting, so that goofballs like APC wouldn't feel comfortable voting. Then maybe only the people that know these candidates would cast the winning votes.

APC goes and hits a straight ticket votes and feels like he has done a good thing, not realizing he kills his own community.

I don't know Don Smyth or much about him so you may be spot on about his fairness. Just as you are fond of his work in the boyscouts, I am impressed with Slate's military background. This has exposed him to folks from many socioeconomic backgrounds and tough love leadership skills that will help him deal with the large percentage of young men and women that will go through his court. Misdemanor Judges are really in a position to turn people around.

Krocker is a nice woman but either doesn't understand the rules of evidence or just doesn't care about them.

Practicing in Campbell's court is like being dropped off at daycare where the providers have had their emotions surgically removed. When a Judge thinks she has nothing left to learn, its time to move to another profession.

Brown tries to do what she thinks is right but she is sometimes so busy playing prosecucutor that some juries feel compelled to step up and play defense lawyer. A fair Judge in both her minset and her rulings puts all the players in the system at ease enough to focus on doing their jobs.

Ah, the political season is upon us. Guess it was just a matter of time before candidates and their supporters/detractors located this site. The trashing has begun, & it's a shame.

If I know a candidate whose spouse is engaged in extracurricular activity that the candidate seems to be unaware of, this might be the place to dump. OR, for whatever motive, if someone wants to trash anyone for some previous perceived slight, or if he wants to further his own cause, should this be the place?

I recognize a lot of half-truths and some outright lies brought to this forum. But that happens with open comments which for the most part are unfiltered.

No minds are being changed here. The comments have become a forum for malcontents, whiners, self promoters, and detractors. ENOUGH!!!

I am not sure why all of the attacks. Democrat Judges interpret the Constitution in a manner not anticipated by our founding fathers. Let's start with Abortion....

There is a fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats. I will not vote for a Democrat ever. Before we know it, and unborn fetus will not be a human thus no Cap. Murder. I cannot tolerate that.

Aggie Chair, I could tell you why all the attacks but that would require me having Rush, Glenn or Hannity telling you what to think or say because you clearly do not think for yourself. What you have just said makes no sense at all. Wasn't it a Democratic Senator who was pushing for stronger anti abortion language in the Senate Health Care Bill? If you truly believe in the principles of the founding fathers you would abandon the Republican Party, pledge your allegiance to the United States rather than a party. Vote for the person, not the party.

Aggie, I guess since abortion is already legal, all you're really concernedith is keeping the death penalty? Is the death penalty the way you preserve the sanctity of life, as Orrin Hatch claimed? Was the Iraq war how you maintain peace?

Killing to save lives and waging war for peace are like fucking for virginity. You have your crazy religion in my Constitution. The good news for me is that the crazier you Sarah Palin fans get, the more likely Democrats are to win elections. And I'll enjoy reading your lamentations about how you think the sky is falling because you can't wage your nonsensical Christian jihad in the political world. Blaind partisanship like yours has rendered you irrelevant in today's world.

I am sorry you have such anger. Waging war for peace is like "f-ing" for virginity. The same thing W was criticized for Obama immediately does. Not only does he do it, he tells the enemy how long they should hold out for. There are fundamental differences between Republicans and Democrats and I would rather insure that my candidates view life through Republican colored glasses. Name calling, insults, and profanity certainly will not change my opinion but reinforce it.

Does anybody know where to look for the draws? I believe being number 1 on the ballot makes more difference than the amount of money raised.

Wow! What reason would there be for Palmer to be the spokesperson for the HCDAO on that topic? She doesn't try cases anymore and certainly isn't the chief, except on her website.

The ONLY reason is that she is running for judge, (just so happens the only court room shown in the video is the one she is running for)and that she is in the good graces of Lycos. Did Jeff McShan set it up, is he a Carolyn Farb buddy?

Is Don Smyth going to be allowed to get some face time on some topic he is not responsible for?

Did Palmer replace Donna Hawkins as spokesperson?

This along with how Beverly Kaufman is allowing her 2nd in command do all her media interviews is why Republican politics as usual in Harris County must stop.

Aggie Pct. Chair, if you go to the Harris County GOP website, their Primary page now has the candidates in order of their draw.

"Fighting" between R's v. D's can come in the General Election. If you are concerned about voting Republican, don't you want the most qualified Republican candidates representing the party in the General Election? Anytime the Dems put up someone without the experience or qualifications (see Obama), Republicans scream to high Heaven, NOT QUALIFIED! NO ON THE JOB TRAINING! If you tout someone because they have "paid their dues" to the Republican Party and NOT on Republicans who are the most qualified for the position sought, then you are being hypocritical, or should I say the party is being hypocritical. I want the Republican Party to succeed but I want it to do so with head held high because we put forth the best people for the job they seek. That is what we need to do, put the BEST candidates for the job in the General.Unlike the Democrates, in each race for a Criminal Court Bench, the Republican Party has at least 1 GOOD, EXPERIENCED in the field, QUALIFIED candidate. Some races have 2. Well, maybe not Ct 4 but at least one of them is a Police Officer. Not sure that makes him qualified but considering the options... Anyway, why is there mudslinging between Peebles and Goodhart people? Both are qualified. Both would be good, I think. One over the other? Your responsibilty as a voter, and as a person who may influence those around you who vote, is to do your homework on the candidates, inform yourself of their qualifications. Who is the best person, the best candidate? You decide but make your decision for the right reasons and not blind loyalty to the past.

Point taken. One reason I follow Mr. Newman is because I was told that this website would provide insight as to who would be the best Republican criminal choices. In my precinct, we agree that the Chronicle is not reliable and does not choose the most qualified candidate. We also don't want a mailer that was paid for. We are truely trying to educate ourselves.

For example, the Chronicle is agenda driven. I believe in the death penalty and the Chronicle has already influenced our DA in that respect. Death penalty proponents are not blind to the apparent pandering by Judge Lykos. We believe it is directly realted to the type of press she is getting from the Chronicle. In our opinion, a positive story from the Chronicle is a negative in reality.

On the topic of the death penalty, how many death penalty cases were tried in 2009?

I digress.... Sorry.

In my defense, I am reading this blog and am doing my best to make sure my precinct is educated. My precinct has never been more motivated to vote, this past election was a wake up call for all of us.

APC,I am glad to read that you are NOT stuck on paid party dues. And I appreciate that you are trying to get educated on candidates. That's all anyone can really ask for. For those not in the daily grind at the CJC, this site is a good place to get information. I am sure you know that you still have to be careful of the mudslingers, half truths and flat out lies from commentors. They have a candidate they are pushing or they have a bone to pick with one. One thing you can say about Murray, though, is that he calls it as he sees it. I look forward to more in-depth "endorsements" or race by race breakdowns by him on the site. Being their on a daily basis and having lots of friends and contacts on both sides of the bar, he at least knows a lot of the people we are talking about and I believe wants to see the best people on the bench. To answer your question about the death penalty in 2009, I can remember 2 cases being tried. Both were retrials of cases that were reversed and both got death again. There may have been more but I don't remember them.

The Rs do not have qualified contenders in each race. Some of the incumbents are agenda driven, whether it be state or defense. Some incumbents only care about having the smallest docket. A few of the new Ds are no different.

"How many years did Paula put in before she quit? 14? 15? Doesn't sound like part time to me. She was one of the hardest workers and her dedication to her job was never in question. Do I hear meowing???

January 8, 2010 5:40 PM"

The same he same can be said for Mike Wilkinson applying your logic. The point was that Paula doesn't feel should have to work 8-5+ like the rest of us cats. Her record is what it is.

For you ill-informed (and probably male) bloggers, Paula suggested the idea of flex time while a prosecutor, not to shirk any duties, but to get the antiquated DA's office up to speed with many other offices that allow that option for employees that actually have a family life outside their jobs, and want a little more balance. Most private companies have that option, as do most government offices. Paula worked her tail off as a prosecutor, and tried many complex cases, including a double capital murder, where two juries were utilized simultaneously. She never shirked her duties, unlike many people who would disappear for a three hour cocktail lunch and call it a "scene investigation." Peyton is a nice guy, but I don't think he made it past the level of a felony 3 in the office, and thus does not have the vast experience Paula does. Do your homework, haters.

About Me

I'm a Criminal Defense Attorney and a former Harris County prosecutor. I've been involved in Criminal Law since I was in college, and I've been practicing in Houston for over 15 years.
Most people never have to come down to the Harris County Criminal Justice Center unless they have jury duty. This blog is meant to give the Outsider an inside view.
These are just my opinions. The opinions of the Commenters are also just their opinions and I don't endorse them. But (within reason), I want everybody to be able to have a forum to say what they want to say.